For the first time ever, in the early months of 2025, an international cruise ship will sail the waters of the Saint Lawrence in the heart of the winter.
Cruise the Saint Lawrence (CSL) announced that Ponant's Commandant Charcot expedition ship will make four, 12-night sailings between late JAN and early MAR, 2025 - right in the heart of the winter. Onboard will be 200 intrepid enthusiasts bundled up against the winter weather.
Clearly targeting the French and Canada's French-speaking markets, the only international French cruise line will focus on Quebec ports of call on the itinerary, including Îles–de–la–Madeleine, Gaspé, Sept-Îles, Saguenay and Québec. Embarkation and disembarkation operations will be shared between Quebec and French territory Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon.
According to CSL, the itineraries are expected to also include a number of overnights to allow guests to immerse themselves in the region.
It's a big win for CSL.
René Trépanier, Executive Director, says, "For almost a decade, we have repeatedly promoted unparalleled winterscapes and winter season shore activities with expedition cruise operators. Our efforts appear, at long last, to have begun to pay off with the announcement of this exciting North American premiere."
The voyages will allow guests to experience the wonders of the Canadian winter and spectacular scenic snowscapes. Shore excursions include the opportunity to tent overnight in an Innu community, tour on snowmobile, ride a fat bike on a snow-covered beach and try dogsledding, snowshoeing or even ice fishing on the Saguenay fjord. The cruise line and destination are hoping the northern lights will cooperate and make an appearance, too.
When the Commandant Charcot sets out to navigate the ice of the Saint Lawrence in January 2025, she will be breaking new ground in cruising - or should we say ice? The ship's ice-class hull allows her to operate safely in polar conditions, all while powered by a hybrid electric polar expedition vessel powered by more sustainable liquified natural gas.
"At Ponant, we are particularly attached to the Saint Lawrence region, a region that our ships have visited in summer for a number of years now," said Hervé Gastinel, President of Ponant.
"Our market-leading winter cruises will open the doors to totally novel experiences, unrivalled by any operator elsewhere in the world. The Commandant Charcot will enable us to navigate the ice in complete safety, while providing passengers with an onboard experience nothing short of exceptional. Working together with Destination Saint Lawrence authorities, we have developed an out-of-the-ordinary itinerary. And we are especially eager to share this adventure with our passengers."
Caroline Proulx, Minister of Tourism of Québec, said, "The launch of winter cruises on the Saint Lawrence marks a turning point in the history of international cruises in Québec. This announcement aligns to perfection with efforts devoted to promoting upmarket and Indigenous tourism, while transforming Québec into a leader in the winter tourism sector."
Destination Québec Cité is keen to introduce cruisers to the province's celebration of winter. "Welcoming cruises in winter will provide us with an opportunity to showcase the wonders of winter at Québec, North America's winter capital par excellence. Winter is part and parcel of our DNA and visiting Québec in winter will plunge travellers into the living history of a French-speaking city dating back some 415 years in time," said Robert Mercure, Director, Destination Québec Cité.
